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BACKGROUND: The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to efforts from the medical and scientific community in understanding the biological basis of COVID-19 pathophysiological mechanisms. Thus, analysis of various hematological and immunological parameters may be helpful for COVID-19 infection evaluation for risks involved and effectiveness in management. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the role of various hematological and immunological parameters in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis was performed on 300 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. All participants of the study were divided into - (a) Group I: patients with mild symptoms and normal chest radiographic findings; (b) patients with moderate disease presenting with fever and cough along with other respiratory symptoms, and (c) patients suffering from severe disease. Data collection was done from all patients at the time of hospital admission for hematological and immunological parameters - (a) total leukocyte count, (b) lymphocyte count, (c) lymphocytic subset count, (d) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, (e) D-dimer, (f) C-reactive protein (CRP), and (g) ferritin levels. SPSS 22.0 software was used for determining P values by independent t-test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: The median age was 65 years (interquartile range -57-71 years). While comparing white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, extremely significant P values were obtained. D-dimers and ferritin levels demonstrated extremely significant P values while both LDH and CRPs showed statistical significance. Correlation of lymphocytic subsets showed extreme significance in total lymphocyte counts in mild-to-moderate as compared to severely infected patients while both CD4+ and CD8+ counts demonstrated statistical significance in mild-moderate infected cases. Statistical significance was noted in D-dimer, CRP, and LDH levels also. CONCLUSION: Assessment of hematological and immunological parameters can be used to plan the management of COVID-19 patients.
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BACKGROUND: Essential hypertension is a type of hypertension which bears no etiological reasons. It is found to affect approximately 90 to 95 percent of hypertensive individuals. Similarly, type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a genetically determined systemic condition with a close relation to familial medical history. Both of these conditions or diseases are closely linked with the process of ageing among various other inherited and genetically determined factors. Importantly, a positive family history increases disease risk manifolds. As there is increased risk of hypertension and development of type 2 diabetes in individuals with family history because of genetic factors, the study of co-relation between dermatoglyphics and hypertension can aid in early identification of individuals with a genetic predisposition towards developing hypertension and type 2 diabetes. AIM: The aim and objectives were as follows: (1) Analyze dermatoglyphic finger patterns; (2) Analyze cheiloscopic patterns; (3) Comparison of cheiloscopic and dermatoglyphic patterns with hypertension and type 2 diabetes; and (4) to determine if dermatoglyphics and/or cheiloscopic patterns can be used as tool(s) for pre-identification of inherited diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 300 study participants age range above 40 years were selected after obtaining informed consent. Lip patterns were recorded using a dark-colored lipstick and a transparent cellophane tape while finger print patterns were recorded using stamp ink-pad and by applying uniform finger pressure on blank paper sheet. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS: Cheiloscopic patterns analysis showed that the branched, straight, intersected, reticular followed by undifferentiated patterns were present in decreasing frequency among male patients while among female patients, branched, intersected, straight and reticular patterns were observed. However, no undifferentiated pattern was observed in female subjects. These findings were consistent with both diabetic as well as hypertensive patients. On the other hand, finger pattern analysis showed that ulnar loop was most frequently observed in both male and female patients with either hypertension or type 2 diabetes. Also, this was followed in decreasing order by arch type pattern, radial loop pattern and whorl pattern in both genders. CONCLUSION: It can be surmised from the study that both the finger prints and lip patterns can be used to ascertain predisposition to type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
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BACKGROUND: The expatriate workers (foreign workers) come from various countries having different languages, cultures, and tradition to work in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); here they adopt to local customs, traditions, and work ethics in this new environment. How they perceive their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is important for health-care provider for understanding and planning in patient management. The data of expat workers and their OHRQoL in KSA are meager; hence, assessment of OHRQoL among expatriate working population in Al Zulfi, Saudi Arabia was planned. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult expat working population of various nationalities who were working in Al Zulfi, KSA. The study sample comprised 600 adult expats. OHRQoL was analyzed by using 14-Item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire as instrument. Clinical examination for oral health status was carried out using decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and Oral Hygiene Index simplified (OHI-S). Student's t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, version 20.0 with significance at P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The age of the sample population ranged from 19 to 60 years. No significant difference was observed in oral health status among expats of different nationalities. Age and education were significantly related to OHRQoL as well as oral health status. The mean cumulative scores of OHIP-14 showed that expats from different nationalities had statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Overall the impact of OHRQoL was less among working expat population in Al Zulfi. Physical pain was the common dimension seen among all nationalities. Psychological discomfort and handicap dimensions of OHIP-14 were significant among the study sample.
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BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effectiveness of subgingival irrigation with 10% povidone-iodine as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) and to assess the effectiveness of 10% povidone-iodine in reducing periodontal pathogens mainly Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). METHODOLOGY: Sixty patients with chronic periodontitis of mild to moderate type with periodontal pocket depths (PDs) of 4-6 mm were recruited. At baseline, plaque index, gingival index, and bleeding index were assessed. The PD and clinical attachment level were assessed using the Florida probe®. Pooled subgingival plaque samples were collected. Each participant was allocated into 2 arches, maxillary arch received SRP alone and mandibular arch received SRP with 10% of povidone-iodine irrigation at baseline. After 3 months, same clinical parameters were assessed and plaque samples were collected from both arches. The collected plaque samples were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 10 and through independent-samples t-test, paired-samples t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: At 3 months posttreatment, subgingival irrigation with povidone-iodine together with SRP showed a statistically significant reduction in all the clinical parameters and in levels of Pg and Aa. CONCLUSION: In the present study, 10% povidone-iodine irrigation as an adjunct to SRP favored the nonsurgical periodontal therapy, due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Hence, it could be considered as an adjunctive treatment approach in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
